Self-adjusting book cover



Feb. 15, 1943-. R. CARLO 2,311,153

SELF-ADJUSTING BOOK COVER Filed June 17, 1941 l /41 l l Patented Feb. 16, 1943' unirse! s'r 5 Claims.

This invention relates to a self-adjusting book cover and has, for one of its principal objects, the provision of a book cover or binding which is particularly adapted for use as an auxiliary or protective cover for books, especially books which receive hard use such as lending library and school books.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a book cover which shall be immediately adjustable to various sizes of books within a certain range and which can be readily applied and as easily removed, but which will definitely stay in position after application even under conditions of particularly rough usage.

The essential element of the invention resides in the incorporation into a book cover of a section or sections of what is commonly known as two-way stretch elastic material whereby a cover of one size may be conveniently tted to books of Various sizes within a certain range and whereby the same will retain its desired position on the book through its inherent elasticity.

Other and further important 4objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and following spe- .E

cication.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a book having the improved self-adjusting cover of this invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan View oi the outer face of the self-adjusting book cover of this invention, il-

lustrating a slight modification.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the inner face of the self-adjusting book cover of this invention.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral Hl indicates generally f elastic portions i2, le, 28 and 22 are doubled ,f

inwardly as best shown in Figures 2 and 3, so as to form the conventional book cover, and on the inside of the cover, there are additional non-elastic portions 24, 2t, 23 and 393. The nonelastic elements le and l2 are curved around 55 the back of the book as will be evident from an inspection of the gures.

Joining'all these non-elastic sections together is a strip or strips of material commonly known in the trade as two-way stretch elastic material, this comprising woven or knitted elastic webbing or lasteX and which is constructed in such a manner that it willstretch in both directions ordinarily to ythe same extent but the weave and construction may be such that the elasticity or stretch in one direction may be more or less than that in the other.

These sections lof two-way stretch material are designated by the reference numerals 4Q, 42,

and may comprise separate strips or sections out from a single large piece. Usually, threeseparate strips are employed as this is more economical, and these can be attached to the nonelastic cloth sections by stitching or otherwise or may be woven integral if desired.

The central strip 40 is preferably somewhat wider than the side strips 42 and llil, and there may .be a stifening element 5E! incorporated into the material as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2, thisbeing for the purpose of preventing sagging.

The crossed arrows shown on the elements 49, 42 and 44 areV for the purpose of indicating more clearly the two-way stretch material, such indicia being now more or less conventional in the industry.

One size of cover can be made which will adequately accommodate books ranging between 7% x 51/2 X 11A to 9" X 61/2 x 31". Largeror smaller books can be accommodated with differently sized covers.

It will be noted that the cover is bent rearwardly upon itself to accommodate the book covers which are tted thereinto in the ordinary manner, the non-.elastic sections 25.1, E6, 28 and 3U overlying the adjacent portions of the nonelastic sections I6 and I8, thereby forming double cover portions for the stiff book cover elements, and it will be further noted that the two--way stretch elastic stripI il extends across the back of the book so that variance will be provided for here in order to accommodate books of different thicknesses and heights. Obviously, any strain on the elements I6 and I8 when stretched across a book of relatively larger thickness is taken up by the elastic portions 42 and 44.

It will be seen that herein is provided an elastic book cover which can be very simply and economically constructed and which will adequately meet all requirements of such covers While, in addition, it can be very readily accommodated to books oi varying and various sizes and thicknesses Within certain ranges whereby a minimum number of sets of such covers can be provided to accommodate a maximum number of books of greatly varying size ranges. Furthermore, the material is long-lasting and tough, thereby rendering it capable of standing a considerable amount of abuse While, at the same time, adequately protecting the books to which the cover has been applied. Additionally, the cover itself is quite artistic in its various embodiments and is not at all bulky, .therebyV eliminating any objections which might possibly be present so far as the use of a book cover is concerned. The device can be readily applied and as easily removed, and if the covers become soiled, they can be cleaned or Washed Without much difficulty.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous Adetails of construction varied throughout a wide range Without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted herein otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A self-adjusting book cover comprising a strip of two-Way stretch elastic material adapted to extend across the outer covers and the back of a book and to be folded in, across and in gripping relationship with the book covers, complementary sections of relatively non-elastic material stitched to the elastic material, said non-elastic sections positioned at the corners of the book, a further section of stiiening material applied to the cover, and adapted to extend from the edge of one book cover to the edge of the other cover and across the back of the book, and in adjacent relationship to the corresponding strip of two-Way stretch elastic material, and other strips of two-way stretch elastic material extending transversely from the top of the book to the bottom thereof;

2. A self-adjusting book cover comprising a strip of two-Way stretch elastic material adapted to extend across the outer covers and the back of a book and to be folded in, across and in gripping relationship with the book covers, complementary sections of relatively non-elastic material stitched to the elastic material, said non-elastic sections positioned at the corners of the book, a further section of stiening material applied to the cover, and adapted to extend from the edge of one book cover to the edge of the other cover and across the back of the book, and in adjacent relationship to the corresponding strip of two-Way stretch elastic material, and other strips of two-way stretch elastic material extending transversely from the top of the book to the bottom thereof and folded in over the inside face of the book covers.

3. A self-adjusting book cover comprising a strip of two-Way stretch elastic material adapt- CII ed to extend across the outer covers and .the back of a book and to be folded in, across and in gripping relationship With the book covers, complementary sections of relatively non-elastic material stitched to the elastic material, said non-elastic sections positioned at the corners of the book, a further section' of stiffening material applied to the cover, and adapted to extend from the edge of one book cover to the edge of the other cover and across the back of the book, and in adjacent relationship .to the corresponding strip of two-Way stretch elastic material, andY other strips of two-Way stretch elastic material extending transversely from the top of the book to the bottom thereof, folded in over the inside face of the book covers, and

then joined to the transverse strip of two-Way stretch elastic material.

4. A self-adjusting book cover comprising a strip of two-way stretch elastic material adapted to extend across the outer covers and the back of a book and to be folded in, across and in gripping relationship with the book covers, complementary sections of relatively non-elastic material stitched to the elastic material, said non-elastic sections positioned at the corners of the book, a further section of stifiening material applied to the cover, and adapted to extend from the edge of one book cover to the edge of the other cover and across the back of the book, and in adjacent relationship to the corresponding strip of two-Way stretch elastic material, and other strips of two-Way stretch elastic material extending transversely from the top of the book to the bottom thereof, folded in over the inside face of the book covers, and then joined to the transverse strip of two-Way stretch elastic material, together with supplementary sections of non-elastic material.

5. A self-adjusting book cover comprising a strip of two-Way stretch elastic material adapted to extend across the outer covers and the back of a book and to be folded in, across and in gripping relationship With the book covers, complementary sections of relatively non-elastic material stitched to the elastic material, said non-elastic sections postioned at the corners of the book, a further section of stiffening material applied to the cover, and adapted to extend from the edge of one book cover to the edge of the other cover and across the back of the book, and in adjacent relationship to the corresponding strip of two-Way stretch elastic material, and other strips of two-way stretch elastic material extending transversely from the top of the vbook to the bottom thereof, folded in over the inside face of the book covers, and then joined to the transverse strip of two-Way stretch elastic material, together with supplementary sections of non-elastic material, said supplementary sections being integral With corresponding sections extending across the outside covers and back of the book.

RALPH CARLO. 

